Saints produced a stirring second-half comeback to draw 2-2 at Leyton Orient.

After a lacklustre opening Saints found themselves 2-0 down as they chased five back-to-back league wins for the first time since 2001.

But once Alan Pardew switched to 4-4-2 and introduced David Connolly and Michail Antonio they hit back, Rickie Lambert scoring twice to earn a point in front of more than 3,200 travelling fans at Brisbane Road.

Saints were under pressure from the opening stages of the match and fell behind with just over a minute on the clock.

JJ Melligan lofted in a cross from the right and Tamika Mkandawire rose highest to the ball on the penalty spot and looped a header into the top corner giving Kelvin Davis no chance.

In the process he clashed heads with Neal Trotman and both men went down needing treatment.

Trotman was able to carry on but Mkandawire had to come off meaning his only touch of the game in a one-minute appearance produced a goal. He was replaced by Luke Ashworth.

Trotman nearly got a chance on ten minutes but the ball was just taken away as he readied himself to finish from close range after Dean Hammond headed back across goal.

At the other end Adrian Patuela held off and spun Radhi Jaidi to create a room for a shot but from 20 yards he dragged it well wide.

The encouraging thing for Saints was that Orient were not looking particularly confident at the back and every time Pardew’s men poured forward they looked as though they might score.

Adam Lallana was the next to have a go for Saints on 22 minutes but he put his effort wide from distance.

But as the half wore on Orient were beginning to look more comfortable, happy to sit deeper and try and counter and challenge Saints to break them down but that wasn’t really happening with the direct approach they were sometimes taking.

When Saints did stretch the play and go wide they looked as though they could cause plenty of problems and were particularly looking to get Papa Waigo into the game on the right.

Orient almost doubled their lead on 32 minutes when Luke Summerfield’s deep corner was headed back across to Ben Chorley unmarked six yards out but he fired his volley directly into the ground and it bounced up and over the bar when he should have scored.

After Rickie Lambert couldn’t quite connect with a ball bouncing in the area he had a chance from a free kick to the left of centre 25 yards out but it struck a man in the area.

As the ball cannoned out Paul Wotton drilled a low shot back in that was off target but found Lallana’s feet at the far post but, being caught by surprise just a few yards out, he could only redirect it straight at the keeper.

Both sides had one more chance before the break.

Saints’ came first when Waigo got down the right and cut the ball back to Lambert but he scuffed his first time shot and it went wide.

Orient’s saw Chorley win a header from a corner at the near post but he directed it over and at the break Saints trailed and left Pardew to ponder the same switches he made to turn things round against MK Dons the week before.

Saints started the second half with the same formation and personnel and looked more purposeful straight away, getting the ball in from the right where Lallana’s firm header was saved by Glenn Morris diving to his left.

Hammond had a header five minutes later from Dan Harding’s left-wing cross but flicked it over the bar.

Saints worked a great move on 55 minutes with sharp inter-play between Lambert and Lallana releasing Morgan Schneidlerin but the keeper was out quickly to block at his feet and Orient went straight up the other end and doubled their lead.

It had more than a slight element of fortune about it as Andros Townsend got down the left and whipped in a cross that bounced up right in front of Trotman and simply deflected up off his chest and past the diving Davis for 2-0.

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Pardew made his first change on 57 minutes with David Connolly coming on for Paul Wotton and Saints going 4-4-2.

Waigo became the first man in the book on 61 minutes for a late challenge on the keeper.

But he might have scored moments later when Lambert got the ball across the middle of the six-yard box but somehow from close range with bodies diving in the way he couldn’t convert.

Lallana had the next golden opportunity on 62 minutes finding himself with time and space to pick his spot ten yards out after a scramble in the box but he steered it wide.

Pardew made a second switch on 64 minutes with Michail Antonio on for Waigo as Saints almost started playing a 4-2-2-4 with the new man and Lallana pushed up so far out wide.

Connolly had a sniff of goal four minutes later but fired over under pressure.

Orient responded by bringing on James Scowcroft for Scott McGleish.

Jaidi so nearly got Saints back in it as they continued to pile on wave after wave of pressure with a header from a corner but it was cleared off the line by Summerfield.

That was only a temporary reprieve though as Saints pulled one back on 74 minutes.

A great move culminated in Lallana getting down the right and playing a lovely, firm, square pass to Lambert who finished low and first time from eight yards for 2-1.

Orient made a final switch with ten minutes remaining with Ryan Jarvis on for Patulea.

But the Saints comeback was complete on 84 minutes when a ball bounced around and fell to Lambert ten yards out and on the half volley he smashed it into the top corner for 2-2.

There was a small pitch invasion of celebrating Saints fans but the team were more intent on pushing for a winner.

Antonio had an effort form 25 yards that stretched Morris but he saved it.

Antonio came even closer with a minute left but Morris saved again at this near post and Connolly put the rebound wide.

The fourth official signalled four minutes of injury time but try though both sides did there was not a winner in the game and a thrilling match ended with honours even.

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